Large companies need a way to reach the savings of the public at large. The same problem, on a smaller scale(小规模地), faces practically every company trying to develop new products and create new jobs. There can be little hope of raising the money needed from friends and people we know, and while banks may agree to provide short-term finance(资金), they are generally unwilling to provide money, for long-term projects. So companies turn to the public, inviting people to lend them money, or take a share(股份) in the business in exchange for a share in future interests. This they do by issuing(发行) stocks(股票) and shares in the business through the Stock Exchange. By doing so they can put into circulation(流通) the savings of single persons and institutions, both at home and abroad.
When the saver(储蓄者) needs his money back, he does not have to go to the company with whom he originally placed it. Instead he sells his shares through a stockbroker(证券经纪人) to some other saver who is seeking to invest his money.
Many of the services needed both by industry and by each of us are provided by the government or by local organizations. Without hospitals, roads, electricity, telephones and railways, this country could not work. All these require continuous spending on new equipment and new development if they are to serve us properly, requiring more money than it is raised through taxes alone. The government, local organizations and nationalized industries therefore frequently need to borrow money to finance(给…提供资金) major capital spending, and they, too, come to the Stock Exchange.
There is hardly a man or woman in this country whose standard of living does not depend on the ability of his or her employers to raise money to finance new development. In one way or another his new money must come from the savings of the country. The Stock Exchange exists to provide a channel through which these savings can reach those who need finance.The money which enables these companies to go ahead with their projects is _______.
| A．exchanged for part ownership in the Stock Exchange |
| B．raised by the selling of shares in the companies |
| C．repaid to its original owners as soon as possible |
| D．invested in different companies in the Stock Exchange |
All the basic services on which we depend are _______.
| A．unable to provide for the needs of the population |
| B．financed wholly by rates and taxes |
| C．in constant need of financial support |
| D．run by the government or local organizations |
The Stock Exchange makes it possible for the government, local organizations and nationalized industries _______.
| A．to make certain everybody saves money |
| B．to borrow as much money as they wish |
| C．to make certain everybody lends money to them |
| D．to raise money to finance new development |
The underlined word invest probably means _______.
| A．give more money with | B．provide less money with |
| C．borrow less money with | D．make more money with |
In a great many cities, hundreds of people ride bicycles to work every day. In New York City, some bike riders have even formed a group called Bike for a Better City. They declare that if more people rode bicycles to work, there would be fewer automobiles in the downtown part of the city and so less dirty air from car engines.
For several years this group has been trying to get the city government to help bicycle riders. For example. They want the city to draw special lanes for bicycles only on some of the main streets, because when bicycle riders must use the same lanes as cars, there are accidents. Bike for a Better City feels that if there were special lanes, more people would use bikes.
But no bicycle lanes have been drawn. Not everyone thinks it is a good idea-they say it will slow the traffic. Some store owners on the main streets don’t like the idea-they say that if there is less traffic, they will have less business.
The city government has not yet decided what to do. It wants to keep everyone happy. On weekends, Central Park-the largest place of open ground in New York-is closed to cars, and the roads may be used by bicycles only. But Bike for a Better City says that this is not enough and keeps fighting to get bicycle lanes downtown.In New York, a group of bike riders ________.
| A．are keeping practicing for health |
| B．have no cars of their own |
| C．are complaining there are not enough buses |
| D．are trying to settle the problem of air pollution |
The advantage of the special lanes is that ________.
| A．they will make cars and buses run slowly |
| B．they will make it easier for bike riders to go to parks |
| C．they will make the city more beautiful |
| D．the lanes will prevent accidents |
The government has not decided whether special lanes should be drawn _______.
| A．so that everyone is disappointed |
| B．because there are different opinions |
| C．because most people travel by train |
| D．because Bike for a Better City is not strong enough |
Cars are not permitted to enter Central Park on weekends _________.
| A．so that Bike for a Better City is pleased |
| B．so that everyone is happy |
| C．and bicycle lanes are drawn |
| D．but Bike for a Better City is still not satisfied |
Recently, one of my best friends, whom I've shared just about everything with since the first day of kindergarten, spent the weekend with me. Since I moved to a new town several years ago，we've both always looked forward to the few times a year when we can see each other.
Over the weekend, we spent hours and hours, staying up late into the night, talking about the people she was hanging around with. She started telling me stories about her new boyfriend, about how he experimented with drugs and was into other selfdestructive（自我毁灭的） behavior. I was blown away! She told me how she had been lying to her parents about where she was going and even stealing out to see this guy because they didn't want her around him. No matter how hard I tried to tell her that she deserved better, she didn't believe me. Her selfrespect seemed to have disappeared.
I tried to convince her that she was ruining her future and heading for big trouble. I felt like I was getting nowhere. I just couldn't believe that she really thought it was acceptable to hang out with a group of losers, especially her boyfriend.
By the time she left，I was really worried about her and exhausted by the experience. It had been so frustrating，I had come close to telling her several times during the weekend that maybe we had just grown too far apart to continue our friendship, but I didn't. I put the power of friendship to the final test. We'd been friends for far too long. I had to hope that she valued me enough to know that I was trying to save her from hurting herself. I wanted to believe that our friendship could conquer anything.
A few days later, she called to say that she had thought long and hard about our conversation, and then she told me that she had broken up with her boyfriend. I just listened on the other end of the phone with tears of joy running down my face. It was one of the truly rewarding moments in my life. Never had I been so proud of a friend.In the writer's opinion，her friend ________.
| A．was a girl with no selfrespect |
| B．could find a better boyfriend |
| C．was brave enough to stick to her own choice |
| D．didn't value the writer's suggestion |
What did the writer worry about?
| A．She would lose the friendship with her. |
| B．Her friend's parents would be worried about their daughter. |
| C．Her friend would get into great trouble with the boy. |
| D．Her friend's boyfriend would be in great trouble. |
We may learn from Paragraph 3 that the writer________.
| A．didn't want to go anywhere else |
| B．understood her friend's hanging with her boyfriend |
| C．couldn't believe that her friend's choice was acceptable |
| D．doubted that she could in any way help her friend |
What can be concluded from the passage?
| A．Friendship starting from childhood is not reliable. |
| B．Friendship is a cure for any injury in life. |
| C．Friendship should be everlasting once begun. |
| D．Friendship can have magical power in life. |
If you want fully enjoy your vacation, then you’d better check the Durban City Tours! This is actually one of the best choices in South Africa today.
There is nothing more relaxing than to think about that there is a place to go and relax, right? City life is strained, but you can escape this situation and be in the place where there is nothing but relaxation. Here in Durban you will get to see all the amazing tourist attractions. If you love animals and want to see some elephants wandering around the streets, then Durban is the place to go. You can even get to ride one if you want!
Here you will also get to taste all the delicious South African food. You can choose from Italian cooking to its native dishes. Durban is a great place to tour with your friends and family. You will learn a lot about its history through the landmarks you will see down the streets. Tourists and even the local villagers just can’t get enough of these treats!
However, it is important that you make the necessary arrangements. There are actually lots of tour guides that will help you as you make your journey along the streets of Durban. But if you prefer the best tour guides here in Durban, then you’d better choose the Street Scene Tours. Their staff are all well-trained and professional. They will certainly make your stay here an unforgettable one. No wonder tourists prefer the Street Scene Tours when it comes to Durban City Tours.The underlined word“strained”in Para. 2 means ______.
| A．easy | B．stressful | C．relaxing | D．wonderful |
What is the main idea of Paragraph 2?
| A．Durban is relaxing city. |
| B．People don’t like city life. |
| C．It is good to have a place to relax. |
| D．One can have fun riding elephants. |
If you walk in the streets of Durban, what will impress you most?
| A．Tourists from all over the world. |
| B．The buildings and many kinds of animals. |
| C．The streets and some wandering elephants. |
| D．The friendly local people and the scenery. |
What does the last sentence in Paragraph 3 show?
| A．The food can’t satisfy them. |
| B．They are bored with the streets. |
| C．They are treated very well here. |
| D．never get tired of the sights. |
Student Membership-----Cambridge Arts Cinema
Cambridge Arts Cinema is one of the art houses in Britain and home of the internationally celebrated Cambridge Film Festival. Since 1947 generations of students have discovered the wealth of world cinema. Now you too can make most of it and save money.
Which of the following is the most famous event held at Cambridge Arts Cinema?
| A．Monthly premieres. | B．The preview screening. |
| C．Meetings with filmmakers. | D．The Cambridge Film Festival. |
If you're a member of Cambridge Arts Cinema, you will enjoy free＿
| A．Darkroom Gallery shows | B．special film events |
| C．mailed programmes | D．film shows |
How long will the membership for Cambridge Arts Cinema last?
| A．One year. | B．Nine months |
| C．Eight months. | D．Four months. |
For what purpose is the text written?
| A．Increasing the cinema's membership. |
| B．Offering students cheaper tickets． |
| C．Telling the public of the cinema's address. |
| D．Announcing the opening of a premiere. |
TANG Dynasty writer Du Mu once wrote in a poem titled Qingming: "The ceaseless drizzle drips all the dismal day; So broken-hearted fares the traveler on the way.Where can a wine house be found to drown his sadness ?A cowherd points to Almond Flower (Xing Hua) Village in the distance."
Qingming, the traditional tomb-sweeping day on the Chinese lunar calendar, falls on April 4 this year. Qingming Jie was proclaimed（正式宣布） a Chinese national holiday in 2008. It is a time for remembering loved ones who have departed (去世). People visit their ancestors’ graves to sweep away the dirt and get rid of any weeds. They also leave offerings (祭品) of food and flowers, and burn incense (香) and paper money. Chinese tombs are usually built in the woods or on mountains, far from the city. It is believed that an area that faces south, with many pine trees, is a proper place for a tomb. People believe such a place will make the ancestors happy, and in return, they will look after the living family.
Nowadays, more and more residents are choosing environmental-friendly ways to spend the holiday such as flower sacrifices and memorial ceremonies on the Internet or at home. As one of the traditional ways to celebrate Tomb-sweeping Day – burning paper or incense – isn't exactly good for air quality
In contrast to the sadness of the tomb sweepers, people also enjoy hope of Spring on this day. The Qingming Festival is a time when the sun shines brightly, the trees and grass become green and nature is again lively. Since ancient times, people have followed the custom of Spring outings. At this time tourists are everywhere
Many people fly kites on Tomb Sweeping Day. They are usually made from a bamboo crossbow with coloured paper. The kite vibrates and buzzes as it rises into the sky, counterbalanced by its tail. Large kites can be as broad as three metres across, with a tail of six to ten metres. Most kites have a rectangular shape, and many have patterns of crabs, centipedes, butterflies, dragonflies, or Chinese characters such as "good fortune" or "long life".What’s the main idea of the second paragraph?
| A．The cultural difference between the east and the west. |
| B．The traditional customs on tomb-sweeping day. |
| C．Various ways to care for the dead in the world. |
| D．Qingming Festival |
All of the following practices are mentioned on tomb-sweeping day EXCEPT_____ .
| A．Weeping over the passed-away. |
| B．Flying kites made from bamboo and paper |
| C．Sending flowers to their ancestors’ graves. |
| D．Burning incense and paper money for the dead. |
Which of the following is correct according to passage?
| A．Du Mu ,the well-known poet in Song Dynasty wrote a poem about Qing Ming. |
| B．Qingming Festival used to be a Chinese national holiday. |
| C．People have the custom of flying kites on Qing Ming. |
| D．Those whose ancestors were buried in proper places will have a bright future. |
The writer write the passage in order to____________ .
| A．enable us to observe traditional tomb-sweeping day. |
| B．show traditional and present ways to spend Qingming Festival . |
| C．educate people to show their respect to the ancestors |
| D．raise people’s awareness of environmental protection. |